Aug 16, 2011

THE BUGIS MAKASSAR PEOPLE

The people of Bugis-Makassar is the residents of
South Sulawesi ( Celebes ) covers an area around 100.457 square kilo meters, with
total population around 5.600.000. This people is famous for their expert in sailing
on the deep ocean. As a sailor they have spreaded over many areas of Indonesia
such as North Sumatera, Malaysia, Kalimantan, Java, Bali, Maluku, Sumbawa, and
West Flores.

Makassar is the name refers to the kingdom on South
Sulawesi which during 17th century was the biggest after
united with the kingdom of Bone, on east coast of south
Sulawesi. The size of South Sulawesi is 100.457 square
kms including the island of Selayar, Tanah Jampea, Kalao,
Bonerate, and Tanakeke. Anthropological studies said
that the people of south Sulawesi is the Bugis, although
based on dialect can be further grouped into the Bugis
itself, Makassar, Toraja, Mandar, and Duri. The fact
that people speaking Bugis dialect group is the biggest
number. People speaking dialect of Makassar is now the
residents of Makassar city, which was known also as
Ujung Pandang city, south east tip of south Sulawesi
and Selayar island. The Mandar dialect is found on north
west coast of South Sulawesi on the area of Majene northward
up to Mamuju. While dialect of Duri very small number
neighboring with Toraja people. Due to wide area of
South Sulawesi it is believed that during the course
of history the culture of Bugis experienced some changes
on some places or known as some transformations, so
we now know some types of cultures and dialect son the
region. Although he title is Bugis people we here discuss
in general about the ethnics still within the group
of south of Sulawesi. Makassar is flourishing kingdom
of Bugis kingdom in 17th century and probably before
when Hindu influence reached the region. While Toraja
people and its culture will be treated separately as
this people as if they are having their own culture
known worldwide. The record by governor of South Sulawesi
Province in 1969 mentions that the number of people
estimated 5.643.067.

Linguistic study by B.F. Matthes found that ancient
south Sulawwesi had written tradition using Indian writing,
in both Bugis who used a language called Ugi, and the
Makassar used a language called Mangsara. It is preserved
on lontar leaves or paper. The writing is known as aksara-lontara.
Aksara is Sanskrit word for alphabet, and Lontara is
palm leaves. In the turn of 17th century century Islam
started to enter south Sulawesi from Seram island in
Ambon. Also the writing is changed into Arabian which
is called huruf Serang ( probably from word " Seram
" ). Many heritages on Bugis literature can be mentioned
such as big collection of Bugis myth called Sure Galigo,
ethnic called Paseng, leaders' decisions called Rapang,
and others. Starting the coming of Islam in 17th century
and arrival of Dutch V.O.C military the situation of
South Sulawesi is said never in peace. Between existing
kingdoms were bloody conflict, and V.O.C military oppressed
them very fiercely, causing many of them leaving their
land and live on other parts of Indonesia. Today we
can find Bugis people at any part of Indonesia who still
preserve their tradition, although already following Islam.

In the past the pattern of their settlement was centered
on sacred place with big banyan tree called "possi tana"
enclosed by between 10 to 200 houses. A settlement is
headed by a Matoa or Jannang, or Lompo, or Toddo, assisted
by 2 persons, the Sariang or Parennung. A unit of some
settlements is called Wanua is Bugis and Pa'rasangan
or bori in Makassar. From here we write a name as follows
Bugis/Makassar just to make it short. The head of Wanua
is Arung Palili or Sullewatang/Karaeng. After independence
Wanua is the position of Kecamatan administration.

The shape of house the Bugis and makassar have the same
style, except the Toraja is very unique which is discussed
on special for Toraja people. The house is built on
poles, the upper room under roof is to put rice, called
rakkeang/pammakkang, room for living called ale bola/balle
bolla, while space under the floor called awasao/passiringgang,
to put farming tools, chicken house and other. Based
on social status can be divided into 3 houses, sao raja/balla
or lompo is a big house of noble family, normally has
steps with storyed base, and roof top with 3 levels.
Sao piti/tanarata is smaller house without top roof,
bola/balla is common people house. To build a house
an expert of tradition called panrita bola make a ritual
to choose the spot where the house is to be built. Some
times buffalo head is buried as the ritual to avoid
the bad luck that might face the house.

Traditional system of Bugis people introduce social
strata such as the group of royal people or noble called
Anakarung/Anakaraeng, common people of independent people
called to maradeka/tu maradeka. The third group was
ata meaning slave which was believed only appear much
later in Bugis - Makassar society. Today the title of
nobility such as Karaenta, Puatta, Andi and Daeng are
still being used but meaning not much in the society.
Today this social layers are not noticeable anymore
in pace with changes orientation of the people life,
as does the ideal marriage couple of the people which
was between third level of family relation and big amount
of doory and marriage expenses, now changed already.
Marriage between grand children of brothers/sisters
was not always smooth, some times also facing objection.
If the objection come from the family of woman sometimes
the man abducted the woman and hiding months at certain
place and seek protection to prominent people, who could
often use his power to dispose the anger of the woman family.

The people of Bugis is an obedient people to their original
tradition although those who already live outside South
Sulawesi. Their sacred tradition called panngaderreng/panngadakkang.
The tradition is based on elements namely (1) Ade/ada
an ethic of marriage, kinship, generation, relation
among relatives, and the ethic on politic. (2) Bicara
is the procedure of law proceedings and judgment, (3)
Rapang can be said as samples, analogy, or metaphors
of past events to be used as reflection of life. (4)
Wari, ethic of classification on objects and social
matters, (5) Sara, social organization and Islamic rules.

Original belief of Bugis as it is mentioned on Sure'
Galigo is the god of Patoto-e hold human fate, god Seuwa-e
the single god, Tuie a' rana the highest wish. With
the coming of Islam this original belief has changed
into syari'ah, especially with the intensive effort
of Muhammadiyah to purify Islam in south Sulawesi. The
purifications probably to make Islam like in Middle
East, and to leave traditional spirits such as homage
to certain place, homage to ancestors, respect to nature
in general. But the spirit of well known "siri" is still
stitched in every heart of Bugis/Makassar winch freely
can be translated into non negotiable self dignity.
Some experts say this is not only self, but group and
it can arrive at a fatal action such as murder.

Bugis people is well known for their craft of making
phinisi wooden ship can be used to sail on the deep
ocean. As the producer of wooden ship they also professional
on sailing to any ocean, even it is recorded that at
the begriming of Australia being colonized by British,
a connection between northern Australia and Indonesia
was frequent until the British banned Indonesian seafarers
to call at the land of northern territory.